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An analysis of Cape Town Municipality's approach to urban regeneration in the central business district and other business nodes

Liebenberg, Christiaan Rudolf (2002-12)

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.

Thesis

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: According to certain writers urban regeneration as an idea encapsulates both the perception of city
decline (in local economies, in the use of land and buildings, in the equality of the environment and
social life) and the hope of renewal, reversing trends in order to find a new basis for economic
growth and social wellbeing. Rebuilding the city, clearing away obsolete buildings and vacant
sites, and producing new building forms and designs symbolised the renewal in action. But urban
regeneration also has different components or evolution criteria like, the major strategy (the focus
of the renewal project), an economic focus, a social content, a physical emphasis or an
environmental approach. The economic change that occurred in cities throughout the world in the
past decade, has been paralleled not only by the physical reshaping of the city, but it has been
accompanied by institutional restructuring (the rise of new firms, new working practices and
relationships designed to exploit new market opportunities).
The physical, economic, social and cultural projects launched through the process of urban
regeneration, reconstruct the economic, socio-cultural, political-institutional and physicalenvironmental
fabric of cities. It battles urban decay and redevelop the city to such a extend that it
brings back the original appeal of the city, which lured people to the central city for decades. But
not all urban renewal projects are aimed at the inner city; some are launched in a much wider
context and would focus on blighted or previously disadvantaged and marginalised areas. Renewal
projects in Cape Town and elsewhere in South Africa in cities like Durban and Johannesburg are
still ongoing and form an important part of rebuilding cities of modem South Africa. It is however
important to remember that not all urban renewal projects proved to be a success, some do fail. In
the Cape Town Metropole and the Central City local government has neglected many areas for
much too long. Recent efforts to restore the beauty of Cape Town and really address the urban
challenges that arose from the Apartheid legacy shows a commitment from the Cape Town
Municipality to create a much more liveable and economic viable urban environment.
This study investigated the City of Cape Town Municipality's approach towards urban regeneration
in the Central Business District and other specific business nodes. A literature review gave an
intellectual background to the study and helped to build a logical framework. Secondary analysis
helped define the goal of the study and qualitative field research assisted the investigation through
direct observation and semi-structured interviewing. The study did not aim to prove that every urban renewal project that was launched was aimed at eradicating the problems associated with the
Apartheid City. An important factor to take in account is that different business areas (The Victoria
and Alfred Waterfront) and nodes (The Wetton-Landsdowne Phillipi Corridor), the focus of this
study, make use of different redevelopment strategies. This study focused on how and why some
work and must be built upon, and delivered critique on why some failed and should convert to a
more successful renewal approach. The study concluded that the City of Cape Town's approach
towards urban regeneration do compare positively with redevelopment strategies followed in other
parts of the world such as America and Britain. The study tried to show the direction urban
regeneration could take for the future, based on an evaluation of urban regeneration evolution
criteria namely:
• The major strategy and orientation and key actors and stakeholders.
• The economic focus.
• The social content.
• The physical emphasis.